Dorothy's got the X Factor!

Sep 18 2007

MORE than 60 years ago, Dorothy Bishop was the darling of Birmingham's soldiers - a home grown Vera Lynn who kept the city's home front in high spirits.

She lit up the dark days of World War II by bringing laughter and smiles to hordes of cheering soldiers at venues like Birmingham's Ritz Ballroom.

But now decades later she is more popular than ever, with an admiring audience of millions as one of the veteran stars of hit talent show The X Factor.

The Birmingham grandmother, aged 84, impressed judges with a jazzed-up version of We'll Meet Again, the tune made famous by the original forces sweetheart Dame Vera.

And she is now taking part in the singing "boot camp" section of the show, where dozens of aspiring stars go head-to-head to try to win a place on the final stages of the show.

Dorothy, of Monkspath, Solihull, said: "I wanted to sing the Gershwin showtune Someone To Watch Over Me, but they persuaded me it was too long and not terribly melodic.

"So they said to me 'do you know We'll Meet Again?' I wasn't too keen, but I jazzed it up a bit."

Her performance impressed the panel of judges - including Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne - so much they immediately voted her through to the next round.

Singer Dannii Minogue said Dorothy's voice was "beautiful" before casting her vote. But first she had to put up with some gentle ribbing about her friendship with her fellow contestant, 67-year-old Eric Anderson, also from Birmingham.

The two met and became friends during the making of the show, and the retired builder asked her out for a meal before both were voted through to the next round.

Describing the 84-year-old as a "minx", judge Simon Cowell told Dorothy: "He would effectively be your toy boy."

But Dorothy stressed there were no romantic connections between her and Eric.

"Eric and I were talking, and he came to boot camp with me and we got on like a house on fire," she said.

Dorothy rediscovered her love of singing when she enrolled on a three-year drama course at the Birmingham Theatre School following the death of her husband John.

"I was very nervous, because for the first time I didn't have the security of being surrounded by the band," she said.

"People have been saying to me 'Dorothy, you should go on The X Factor for years now. This year I thought that at 84, why not?"